DISCUSSION 



Our evaluations identify sensitive species status changes 

 for BLM consideration, habitats in which rare species are 

 concentrated, and sites which are significant in harboring 

 large numbers of single or multiple sensitive plant species. 

 The data support designation of thirteen Tendoy Mountains 

 species as sensitive (See Table 2, below). These are rare 

 taxa which have limited geographical distributions and 

 perceived or potential threats. Populations are generally 

 small and/or the species have very few known occurrences in 

 Montana. Most grow in habitats which are potentially impacted 

 by livestock and many of the surveyed populations were in 

 degraded habitat. A few occur on dry, rocky slopes which are 

 generally well protected, but they are otherwise extremely 

 rare in Montana, and BLM lands in southwestern Montana 

 represent a significant proportion of their remaining habitat. 



Table 2. Species recommended for BLM sensitive status 

 (As summarized in Table 1) 



Agastache cusickii 



Astragalus scaphoides 



Astragalus terminalis 



Carex parryana ssp. idahoensis 



Eriogonum caespitosum 



Haplopappus macronema ssp. linearis 



Hutchinsia procumbens 



Lomatium attenuatum 



Penstemon lemhiensis 



Phacelia incana 



Sphaeromeria argentea 



Taraxacum eriophorum 



Thalictrum alpinum 



Thelypodium sagittatum 



In addition, the data support list changes and rank 

 changes among the Montana state species of concern. It is 

 recommended that the Delphinium bicolor ssp. novum and 

 Townsendia nuttallii be added to the tracking list with a 

 "Status Undetermined" (SU) rank pending review and annotation 

 of other Montana herbarium specimens, and that Eriogonum 

 caespitosum and Lomatium attenuatum be added to the list with 

 "SI" status. 



Of the globally rare taxa, Penstemon lemhiensis is the 

 only taxon currently under review for federal listing (FR NOR 

 Vol. 58, No. 158 of 9/30/1993). Two other species have been 

 considered for federal listing as threatened or endangered, 

 but have subsequently been found to be more secure than 

 previously known - Astragalus scaphoides and Lomatium 

 attentuatum are placed in Category 3C. The Carex parryana 



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